Short-run prototyping
Validate artwork, structure, and finish on production-spec board before committing to a long run. We turn around physical samples in 3–5 business days.
Approving a carton from a flat PDF is how brands end up with foil that's too brassy, a soft-touch that feels wrong, or a structure that crushes in transit. We turn around production-realistic samples in 3–5 business days — same board, same coating, same crease pattern as the real run — so the thing you sign off on is the thing you'll receive by the pallet.
This matters most before a long run or a retail launch, when the cost of getting it wrong is a six-figure reprint and a missed shelf date. Prototype the structure, the artwork, and the finish together, test it on your line and in your packout, then commit. Because the prototype runs in the same plant on the same materials, there's no gap between sample and production — what you approve is what scales.
Frequently asked questions
- How fast can I get a physical sample?
- Typically 3–5 business days for a production-spec prototype — same board, coating, and crease as the full run.
- Is the sample really representative of production?
- Yes — it runs in the same plant on the same materials, so foil tone, coating feel, and structure match what you'll receive by the pallet.
- Can I test the prototype on my packaging line?
- That's the point — validate fit, auto-erect, and packout on your line before you commit to a long run.
- Do prototypes cost a lot?
- Far less than a wrong full run. We quote prototyping up front so you can de-risk a launch without surprises.
Related capabilities
Structural design
Custom dielines engineered for your product, fill line, and shelf footprint.
Learn more →Premium offset printing
Heidelberg XL106 — 7-colour with inline coating, up to 18,000 sheets/hour.
Learn more →Finishing & converting
Foil, emboss, die-cut, fold and glue — finished cartons on a single PO.
Learn more →Start your project
Tell us what you're building. A specialist will reply within one business day with questions, a rough estimate, or samples on the way.